Blue Grama (Bouteloua gracilis)
Blue grama is New Mexico's official state grass.
Blue grama is a native, warm-season, low-growing, perennial bunchgrass. It dominates more than on...
Read more
Blue grama is New Mexico's official state grass.
Blue grama is a native, warm-season, low-growing, perennial bunchgrass. It dominates more than one-third of the total usable range in Arizona and New Mexico.
In the summer, the feathered heads look like little flags, but later on the flags become circles.
Read less
Blue grama is a native, warm-season, low-growing, perennial bunchgrass. It dominates more than one-third of the total usable range in Arizona and New Mexico.
In the summer, the feathered heads look like little flags, but later on the flags become circles.
Read less
Mar, 2014Views
2993
Likes
Awards
Chatter Award
2020 Choice Award
Outstanding Creativity
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Peer Award
Superior Skill
All Star
Magnificent Capture
Great Find
Exceptional Contrast
Jaw Dropping
Love it
Top Ranks
Top 10 rank week 1
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Categories
1Ernesto
March 21, 2014
I especially like the magnifying glass look and the extra stem creates a more interesting composition, thanks for the "Well done".
bearinmybackyard
March 24, 2014
That's incredible. AT first I thought it might be first nation weaving, but to find out that it is actually a grass! wow!
1Ernesto
March 24, 2014
Thanks for sharing your thought of this being a "first nation weaving." I will never look at this without thinking exactly that and isn't this what makes ViewBug so much fun!
1Ernesto
March 26, 2014
Thank you very much, it reminds me of your "Sea Oats" photo in your gallery : - ))
PRO+
Cookie1
May 12, 2014
What a powerful composition with so few components, this should do absolutely wonderful in the Photographer Of The Month Contest VOTED
staceestracnerseverino
June 05, 2014
THIS HAS TO BE THE MOST INTERESTING PHOTO OF PLANT LIFE I HAVE EVER SEEN. THIS IS AN AWARD WINNING SHOT I BELIEVE. THANK YOU FOR SHARING
1Ernesto
June 07, 2014
Your accolades are most appreciated and because it is so unusual it has a lot of eye appeal.
Milliemoments
August 06, 2014
Beautiful photo! Thank you for sharing the background information too.
Shebomb7
August 12, 2014
I love that you tell the story behind your pictures. Who knew about this grass! Wonderful photography and a nature lesson in one!
1Ernesto
August 13, 2014
How fun to get such wonderful feedback and especially about the story (description) :~))
Dunner
November 22, 2014
Brilliant capture. It has everything. Creativity. Contrast. Geometry. Symmetry. Perfect light, highlights. Nature captured at it's finest. Perfect artistry. Congrats!
1Ernesto
November 22, 2014
You have made my head fill with such pride that I can hardly hold it up to see what I'm typing. Thinking when I count my blessings today that for sure I will count you twice (^_^). My wife says it is her favorite photo.
lvalencia
January 01, 2015
I love that you explained what this is. It definitely adds depth to this stunning shot. Beautiful work.
1Ernesto
January 01, 2015
Thank you for the "Outstanding Creativity" peer recognition and for the comment beautiful work.
PRO+
1Ernesto
December 12, 2015
I appreciate the comment "UNIQUE" and the "Absolute Masterpiece" peer recognition. You have me thinking I should do some more macro shots with that old Fuji camera - thanks
PRO
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was made in the late fall in high desert country near Tyrone, New Mexico. Blue grama is the official state grass of New Mexico and even then there a few really good photos of the grass in a perfect circle. This only happens when the grass goes dormant and often times the wind and weather will make all but a few drop to the ground, so the window of opportunity for a shot like this can take years (It took 18 years for me to make this photo).Time
Almost all of my photos are made in the early morning as was this one. If any time of the day can offer a chance with no wind it is early morning. Also the most flowers are open and animals are moving before the heat of the day.Lighting
In high desert one needs to be out early to beat the hot New Mexico sun and its effect on washing the color out of a scene, as it is so bright. The lighting in this photo is totally natural and was coming from an angle from behind the grass in this photo. The lighting in this photo was perfect in that it was not so hot that it faded the web into oblivion.Equipment
The camera used was a entry level Fujifilm FinePix S8200 which was set on macro. The lens is a 50x Zoom F=4.3-215 1:2.9-6.5 and on this camera it is not interchangeable with another lens. No tripod was used for this shot as it was very close to the ground and I was making shots with my elbows on the rocks in the area of this grass gone to seed. I made a complete 360 degree circle around many plants and did not think this one was going to be a favorite because of the extra stalk going right up the loop. In the end after looking at all the shots this one seemed to have the right components (web and extra stalk) to make it both interesting and a eye catching composition.Inspiration
Blue grama is New Mexico's official state grass, and I wanted to have an award winning photo to share within the state and maybe enter into contests. Blue grama is a native, warm-season, low-growing, perennial bunchgrass. It dominates more than one-third of the total usable range in Arizona and New Mexico. In the summer, the feathered heads look like little flags, but later on the flags become circles.Editing
To my knowledge, what I can remember doing to this photo was a little un-aggressive cropping.In my camera bag
At the time this photo was made I hiked about three hours everyday and have never carried anything other than my camera, tripod and a pocket knife. I use my camera much like a hunter would use their equipment, looking for the best shot. Because I'm making my photos outside I will attend to what trail gives me the best options for the sun to be at my back. If it is wild animals that are the focus of my day (pun intended) I will also make sure I'm downwind (so they don't smell me) of the likely place to find them grazing etc. I lied about what I have for equipment - the camera lens has a beer cozy on it rather than a lens cap. I keep a lens cleaner cloth and a couple of (one use) non-alcohol wipes to keep the lens clean. Climbing in the rocks and always banging the lens made this cozy innovation a necessity.Feedback
As a photo hobbyist my only advice is to try everything you can to make a shot work, even if it takes years. Nothing feels as good as having what you envisioned come to life in a photo it took years of trying to make. The easiest photographs to make for me are the ones that fit into the genre "Street Photography". The reason I feel this way is because once I begin and get into the action I completely go into automatic mode (in the zone) and can spend hours chasing shots......... I like to say "I think there is beauty in everything, and often it is the photographer that sees it first."
